Jane Eyre in Therapy: A Neo-Victorian Perspective on the Literary Classic in “The Mirror” by Francine Prose

This paper aims to present Francine Prose’s “The Mirror” (2016) as a neo-Victorian rewriting of Jane Eyre (1847/2014) that subverts the Victorian values and ideals concerning women while simultaneously embracing feminist approach to Charlotte Brontë’s classic. The examination relies upon Gerard Genette’s theory of hypertextuality (1982/1997). Prose’s hypertext revises the “happy ending” of Brontë’s novel, drawing attention to issues previously overlooked in the classic, particularly those involving the manipulation of women. “The Mirror” questions Victorian values and proposes different ones, highlighting the importance of mutual understanding among women and sisterhood.